By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
About 1,000 bakers in the Western Region are to benefit from a health-screening facilitated by Olam Agri – the multinational agribusiness firm.
The screening is to ensure that they are healthy and fit to bake for the consuming public. The exercise zones within 24 areas are expected to screen about 1,000 bakers by the end of February 2025.
At Sekondi, the bakers were educated on how to keep their environment clean so they can operate in safe and hygienic conditions, wear neat clothing for baking, cover their hair neatly as well as do away with wearing jewellery during baking among others.
“Our screening is done annually, dubbed ‘Healthy Baker’, but this year we decided to introduce breast-screening for the women to be examined,” Kwabena Owusu, Communications Officer-Olam Agri explained to the B&FT during the screening at Sekondi.
He said about 7,000 bakers are expected to be screened in the Greater Accra, Western, Central and Ashanti Regions.
Daniel Lamptey, Environmental Health Officer of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), said the screening has been brought to the people’s doorsteps and commended Olam Agric for this laudable initiative.
On why the screening, he explained: “The test helps bakers to know they are healthy and do not have any contagious disease that may be transferred to people.
“During baking, ensure that the flour is covered in order not to attract flies and other insects that will affect the health of consumers,” he said.
He continued that the Assembly’s Health Department also visits bakers at their premises every month to ensure that what is being prepared for the public is done under hygienic conditions.
